Skip to content

Enjoy unlimited access

Only $2.99 a month

All Topics
- Health
- Humans
- Life
- Earth
- Physics
- Space

Magazine
Menu
About
For Students
Our Store

Donate

Home INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM SINCE 1921 SIGN IN

Search

Home INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM SINCE 1921

All Topics
- Earth
- Humans
- Life
  - Animals
  - Plants
  - Ecosystems
  - Paleontology
  - Neuroscience
  - Genetics
  - Microbes
- Physics
- Space
- Tech
  - Computing
  - Artificial Intelligence
- Chemistry
- Math
- Science & Society
Health
Humans
- Humans
- Recent posts in Humans
  - Archaeology
    A Pueblo tribe recruited scientists to reclaim its ancient American history
    
    By Bruce Bower5 hours ago
  - Health & Medicine
    Two cities stopped adding fluoride to water. Science reveals what happened
    
    By Alex ViverosApril 28, 2025
  - Health & Medicine
    Bird flu in cows shows no signs of adapting to humans — yet
    
    By Tina Hesman SaeyApril 28, 2025
Life
- Life
  - Animals
  - Plants
  - Ecosystems
  - Paleontology
  - Neuroscience
  - Genetics
  - Microbes
- Recent posts in Life
  - Animals
    The axolotl is endangered in the wild. A discovery offers hope
    
    By Anna Gibbs2 hours ago
  - Archaeology
    A Pueblo tribe recruited scientists to reclaim its ancient American history
    
    By Bruce Bower5 hours ago
  - Paleontology
    These crocodile-like beasts reached the Caribbean, outlasting mainland kin
    
    By Jake Buehler21 hours ago
Earth
- Earth
- Recent posts in Earth
  - Animals
    The axolotl is endangered in the wild. A discovery offers hope
    
    By Anna Gibbs2 hours ago
  - Physics
    Here’s how we might generate electricity from rain
    
    By Jude ColemanApril 29, 2025
  - Oceans
    How will the LA fires affect the ocean? These researchers are racing to find out
    
    By McKenzie PrillamanApril 28, 2025
Physics
- Physics
- Recent posts in Physics
  - Physics
    Here’s how we might generate electricity from rain
    
    By Jude ColemanApril 29, 2025
  - Physics
    Imitation dark matter axions have arrived. They could reveal the real thing
    
    By Emily ConoverApril 16, 2025
  - Particle Physics
    Neutrinos’ maximum possible mass shrinks further
    
    By Emily ConoverApril 10, 2025
Space
- Space
- Recent posts in Space
  - Space
    See how the Hubble Space Telescope is still revolutionizing astronomy
    
    By Katherine KorneiApril 24, 2025
  - Astronomy
    A gas clump in the Milky Way’s neighborhood might be a ‘dark galaxy’
    
    By Mara Johnson-GrohApril 18, 2025
  - Astronomy
    A claimed hint of alien life whips up spirited debate
    
    By Lisa GrossmanApril 17, 2025

Feature

Male-Female Contrasts: The Vole Story

Share this:

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Pocket
Reddit
Print

By Science News

Magazine Issue: Vol. 138 No. #10, September 8, 1990

Having trouble viewing this? Open in a new window

Questions or comments on this article? E-mail us at feedback@sciencenews.org | Reprints FAQ

A version of this article appears in the September 8, 1990 issue of Science News.

We are at a critical time and supporting climate journalism is more important than ever. Science News and our parent organization, the Society for Science, need your help to strengthen environmental literacy and ensure that our response to climate change is informed by science.

Please subscribe to Science News and add $16 to expand science literacy and understanding.

Related Stories

Animals
The axolotl is endangered in the wild. A discovery offers hope

By Anna Gibbs2 hours ago
Archaeology
A Pueblo tribe recruited scientists to reclaim its ancient American history

By Bruce Bower5 hours ago
Paleontology
These crocodile-like beasts reached the Caribbean, outlasting mainland kin

By Jake Buehler21 hours ago

Science News

Science News was founded in 1921 as an independent, nonprofit source of accurate information on the latest news of science, medicine and technology. Today, our mission remains the same: to empower people to evaluate the news and the world around them. It is published by the Society for Science, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education (EIN 53-0196483).

Science News Explores
Science News Learning

Subscriber Services

Subscribe
Renew
Give a Gift Subscription
Customer Service

Follow Science News on Facebook
Follow Science News on X
Follow Science News via RSS
Follow Science News on Instagram
Follow Science News on YouTube
Follow Science News on TikTok

More Information

FAQ
Newsletters
Rights & Permissions
Advertise
Contact

Society for Science

About the Society
Society Store
Donate
Careers

© Society for Science & the Public 2000–2025. All rights reserved.

1719 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036 202.785.2255

Terms of Service Privacy Policy

Log in

Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.

Not a subscriber?
Become one now.

Client key* E-mail Address*